XN000022-1990-12-04 — Page 2

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GOVERNOR AND EXCO MEMBERS TO MEET PRIME MINISTER

MR JOHN

THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL BE MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, MAJOR, DURING A THREE-DAY VISIT TO LONDON.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS VERY PLEASED THAT IN HIS FIRST FULL WEEK IN OFFICE THE PRIME MINISTER WAS TAKING TIME TO SEE A GROUP FROM HONG KONG WHEN HE MUST BE EXTREMELY BUSY.

"THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO BRING HIM UP-TO-DATE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN HONG KONG SO THAT THE CONCERNS AND THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG REGISTER IN HIS MIND," SIR DAVID SAID.

"I WOULD EXPECT THAT WITH MR JOHN MAJOR AS PRIME MINISTER SUPPORT WILL CONTINUE AS BEFORE. HE DOES KNOW A CERTAIN AMOUNT ABOUT HONG KONG FROM HIS TIME AS FOREIGN SECRETARY.

"THIS WILL BE A VERY GOOD CHANCE TO BRING HIM UP-TO-DATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE PRIME MINISTER, I AM SURE HE PERSONALLY WILL BE VERY SUPPORTIVE, BUT IT'S THE GOVERNMENT AS A WHOLE AND I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT THE BAME POLICIES TOWARDS HONG KONG AND TO BE SUPPORTIVE TOWARDS HONG KONG," HE ADDED.

ASKED IF THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD VISIT HONG KONG IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "OF COURSE I WILL SAY ΤΟ HIM THAT WE WOULD WELCOME IT IF HE HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT HERE.'

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"I THINK I MUST ALSO EXPECT THAT HE WILL BE VERY BUSY IN HIS FIRST FEW MONTHS IN OFFICE, BUT OBVIOUSLY IF HE HAS A CHANCE TO COMP HERE WE WOULD VERY MUCH WELCOME IT, SIR DAVID SAID.

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THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD WANT TO BRING MINISTERS IN GENERAL UP-TO-DATE ON HONG KONG'S PLANS FOR THE AIRPORT AS IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF TRYING TO BUILD UP HONG KONG FOR THE LONG-TERM FUTURE AND FOR THE TERRITORY'S PROSPERITY.

ASKRD TO COMMENT ON THE UNHCR'S PROGRAMME OF REPATRIATING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT ACTIVELY VOLUNTEERED, SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS A SLOW START AND HE WOULD MUCH HAVE PREFERRED THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARTED WITH A LARGER NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

"BUT IT IS A START AND I THINK WE MUST GIVE IT A CHANCE, GIVE UNHCR A CHANCE TO SEE IF IT WILL WORK AND IF THE NUMBERS WILL INCREASE. IF YOU REMEMBER THE STRAIGHTFORWARD VOLUNTARY RRPATRIATION SCHEME WAS ALSO A VERY SLOW START. SO LET'S GIVE UNHCR A CHANCE AND SEE IF THEY CAN MAKE THIS ONE PICK UP OVER TIME AS WELL, HE SAID.

H

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM WAS AN IMMENSE ONE: "WE'VE GOT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE WAITING TO BR SCREENED; WE GOT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER WHO ALREADY HAVE BEEN SCREENED OUT AS NOT BEING REFUGEES; AND THE TASK OF TRYING TO GET THOSE PEOPLE BACK TO THEIR HOMES UNDER ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS IS A VERY LARGE ONE."

/"WE'VE GOT